Way up in Northern Finland near Suomussalmi in the Kainuu region there is an art installation by Reijo Kela called "The silent people of Kainuu". These are dressed figures made from wood, straw and dirt. They are made and clothed by the Suomussalmi Youth Workshop. The workshop keeps them maintained and attend to their clothing twice a year. The statues' heads come straight from the field.

People often ask what precisely is the idea behind the Silent People. A state of psycho-logical withdrawal? The mute Kainuu soul? A forgotten people? Reijo Kela refuses to provide any answer. What do you think?

Overlooking the field
The path through the field
Part of the crowd
A friendly (and well-dressed) stranger

It was strange being in this field at dusk. There were no other people; it is a sparsely populated area with the exception of all those figures. And someone pointed out what the field would look like if their wooden frames were not dressed and they did not have the straw heads. Consider that.